Summary: An indept study of Acts 2 that leads the congregation to the understanding that what is desperately needed in the local church today is a reclamation of spiritual passion.

Every year on this Sunday I give what I have called, “A State of the Church” message. It is a prayerful and pray both honest and insightful look at where we are today a church family.

As we begin this State of the Church message we must always begin with our Vision. It is at the point of our vision that we can gauge the progress of where we are and also where we need to be.

“OUR VISION IS TO BE A BIBLICALLY BASED, INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY OF BELIEVERS, GLORIFYING JESUS CHRIST TOGETHER, BY BUILDING RADICAL RELATIONSHIPS FOR CHRIST.”

From this vision the Lord gave us our Community Orientation to help all of us to be on the same page. The basis for our Community Orientation came from Acts 2:42-47. READ.

“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. [43] Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. [44] All the believers were together and had everything in common. [45] Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. [46] Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, [47] praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”

Last week we talked about the joy that has been ours this past year to share what I called, “The Peace in the Pew!”

“All the believers were together and had everything in common.”

Today, it is time to look at this New Year and ask ourselves this question: “Are we in alignment with Acts 2:42-47?” If that text was the basis of what should happen within a New Testament Church and we see characteristics that are not present then we must ask what is missing? I believe what is missing is what I will call “Spiritual Passion for God.” In order to understand the importance of this spiritual passion I would now say that what we need for 2002 is…

I. 2002: A NEW PARADIGM OF SPIRITUAL PASSION

Please read again our passage of today

“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. [43] Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. [44] All the believers were together and had everything in common. [45] Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. [46] Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, [47] praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”

Do you see or hear from God’s word an underlying theme throughout these verses? If not may I help you and share with you what I KNOW God has placed on my heart for today? Throughout not only this text but each time I am reading about God’s church flourishing I see two absolute essentials: 1) A Consuming Passion for God and, 2) A Common Plan for Growth.